West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-03-25
A GIRL BULL-FIGHTER.
Expert Work in the Ring by Mexican
Girl. A Wonderful Thrust.
City of Mexico Letter to Indianapolis
Journal.


Journal.
just prior to the taking effect OF
the decree against bull fighting |
was fortunate enough to witness a
contest in which one Of the most
skillful, daring and expert of the pro-
fessional fighters of Mexico took a
leading part. This performer was a
young woman, whose equal has prob
ably never appeared in the "Plaza
da Toros." In this her farewell ex-
hibition Senorita Hernandez adver-
tised for the widest and ,fercest
bulls that the country could produce,
and agreed to fight them while wear
ing stills. The novelty of young
girl engaging in a bull-fght handi-
capped by having stills fastened t.
her feet was sufficient to attract q
vast crowd, and on the day fixed for
the event fully 5000 persons found
places to sit or stand in the large
amphitheatre. The animals pro-
vided for the occasion were small ac-
tive and wholly untamed, each hav-
ing his horns trimmed and polished
until the points were as bright and
almost as sharp as needles. Never
was more expert work done in this
cruel sport than was performed by
the Mexican girl that day. AS the
bull, mad with rage, would make his
furious charge, she would stand un-
til he had approached within dis
tance Of about three feet, when, sud-
denly springing to one side, she
would, as the animal rushed furious
ly by, with one hand slap him in the
face with the red cloak with which
his anger had been first aroused,
while with the other hand she dex-
terously thrust into his neck a gaudy
barbed "banderilla," causing him to
roar with pain and rage. Charge
after charge was made by the mad
dened brute, only to be eluded by
the active girl, while the bull met
the same treatment as before. The
little senorita played with him,
plagued him, and tortued him as a
cat would a mouse, until the animal,
bleeding and sore and worn out with
fatigue and pain, gave up the con
test and would fight no more. He
had met his conqueror, and was ta-
ken from the ring.
In the next contest the fair Cas-
lillian was under an advertised obli-
CATION, while yet wearing the stilts,
to kill the bull with a sword scarce
ly more than two feet in length.
This was to be done by the toreadora
at the time the animal was making
the charge, the fatal thrust to be
given while she was directly in front
of and fairly facing the bull.
The animal selected for this con-
test was beautiful specimen of his
race. Black as a coal, agile rs cat,
savage and wild, he was no sooner
within the arena than he was ready
for the battle. After he had been
permitted to make charge or two
to warm him up to his work, the Gov
ernor, who presided on the occasion,
gave signal and the bngle sounded
the "death call" The senorita, with
stills of one foot in height securely
fastened to. her limbs, received the
short sword. saluted the Governor,
and, turning to her enemy, gave a
shout of defiance and waved her
scarlet cloak to rouse his anger.
At this time the distance separating
the antagonists was almost 200 feet.
Toro, quivering with excitement and
paving the earth in his rage, waited
for no second invitation. With fash
ing eyes and head lowered to the
ground he started at full speed for
the object Of his hate. The brave
girl waited until the beast was with
in twenty feet, when, bracing herself
firmly, she held her sword at shoul-
der height ready for his coming.
When within about four feet she
threw herselfsuddenly forward, gave
a quick thrust with the sword, and,
without waiting to see the effect of
the blow, swung quickly around and
again saluted the Governor. In the
twinkling of an eye she turned to
face the bull, and as she did so he
dropped dead, so close to her that,
without moving from her position,
she placed one foot upon the neck OF
her now helpless enemy.
The sword, directed by a strong
arm of the self-possessed girl, had sew
cred the spinal cord, and death was
instantaneous and probably painless.
1t was a perilous feat, skiIlfully and
fearlessly performed. and the slight
est nervousness on the part Of the
performer would probably have re
suited in her death. The great au-
dience, in recognition of the skill OF
the brave toreadora, rose to its feet
and for several moments there was
shower of gold and silver coins fall
ing around the victorious girl.
RESTORING WORKOUT FARM
LAND.